PRESENTATION
William R. Fontenot and Jay V. Huner piku@classicnet.net
Acadiana Park Nature Center, 1205 E. Alexander St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Crawfish Research Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504
Abstract
We conducted this survey to assess 1) the composition and seasonal status of the Basin’s bird community and 2) the best potential bird watching sites contained therein, with the overall objective of providing baseline data to be used in producing an Atchafalaya Basin Birding Trail guidebook. A secondary objective was to provide a foundation for additional bird research projects. The Atchafalaya Basin is North America’s largest remaining River Swamp. However, various habitats are found within its historic boundaries. The habitats surveyed included River Swamp, Miscellaneous Open Water, Batture, Freshwater Marsh, Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Agricultural Lands, and Dry‐Mesic Short‐Grass. Between November 2001 and May 2004, observers engaged in over 415 individual surveying trips, accumulating 2000 hours of birding data, and recording a total of 270 bird species for the period. The Atchafalaya Basin comprises about 4% of the state’s area and is used by approximately 59% of its recognized avian fauna. As a consequence of this study, three eco‐tourism events involving neotropical songbirds (spring); storks, wading birds, and shorebirds (summer), and southern Bald Eagles (winter) are held annually. This project was funded by a grant provided by the Atchafalaya Basin Program within the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and directed by Ms. Sandra Thompson.
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